Melting Mpls. Lakes Reveal Hundreds of Dead Fish

The long cold winter wasn't just tough on Minnesotans, it was tough on fish in area lakes.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board officials say they're cleaning up fish at several lakes in the city, which died from a lack of oxygen.
Park officials say they're seeing dead fish at Diamond Lake, Grass Lake, Lake Harriet, Lake Hiawatha, Lake of the Isles, Loring Pond and Powderhorn Lake.  Both Loring Pond and Powderhorn Lake are seeing more significant fish kills because they are smaller and more shallow.
Park officials found dead channel catfish, large goldfish and bullheads.  But they say the fish loss will not be significant enough overall to affect summer fishing on Minneapolis lakes.
The fish kills occur when ice and snow prevent sunlight from reaching aquatic plants which produce the oxygen in a lake.  The impact varies depending on the species of fish.
The MnDNR does stock many of the lakes--including Loring Pond, Webber Pond and Powderhorn Lake--as part of the agency's "Fishing in the Neighborhood" program.  Park officials say they typically stock the larger lakes with walleye and/or muskie.
You can report fish kill sightings to Minneapolis Parks officials at (612) 230-6400.